A History of Hudson Square

Situated in Lower Manhattan–between Greenwich Street on the west, Avenue of the Americas on the east, Houston Street on the north and Canal Street on the south–Hudson Square is one of the City’s newest, most progressive business districts.

18th Century

“Hudson Square” has been almost synonymous with “Trinity Church” since Queen Anne granted 215 acres on the West side of Manhattan to Trinity in 1705.

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The neighborhood itself dates back to the 18th century, when it was a gated park surrounded by distinguished row houses. Trinity Vestrymen mapped and named the area’s streets for fellow vestrymen such as Anthony VanDam, John Charlton, M.D., and Rufus King.

Through the years, commercial growth in Manhattan pressed steadily northward from the tip of the island; by the mid 1800s, Cornelius Vanderbilt’s freight depot for the Hudson River Railroad had replaced the gated park and redefined the neighborhood.

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The neighborhood itself dates back to the 18th century, when it was a gated park surrounded by distinguished row houses. Trinity Vestrymen mapped and named the area’s streets for fellow vestrymen such as Anthony VanDam, John Charlton, M.D., and Rufus King.

Through the years, commercial growth in Manhattan pressed steadily northward from the tip of the island; by the mid 1800s, Cornelius Vanderbilt’s freight depot for the Hudson River Railroad had replaced the gated park and redefined the neighborhood.

19th Century

As New York City evolved, so too did Trinity and Hudson Square–from a church farm to the printing capital of Manhattan.

The Eighties

In the 1980s, manufacturing continued a steep decline nationally and in New York City. From the end of World War II until today, manufacturing jobs in the city shrank from over 1 million to fewer than 100,000. In Manhattan, the decline was overwhelming. The printing industry, facing changing technology and the advent of the computer and digital publishing, declined precipitously.

The Nineties

Facing the decline of printing and manufacturing, Trinity helped transform the district into commercial space for the city’s burgeoning creative and media industries, including graphic arts firms that evolved out of the printing industry.

The Aughts

Today, Trinity owns 40% of the built space in the Hudson Square area and is home to a diverse roster of high-profile companies that includes advertising agencies, designers, architects (both web and building), software companies, publishers and major corporations like MTV Networks, New York Magazine, Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising, WNYC Radio, Viacom, and CBS.

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Hudson Square and Trinity have become home to many of the Citys leading not-for-profits, including Atlantic Philanthropies, the Audubon Society and the Guggenheim Foundation. At 160 Varick, Trinity helped establish and houses a new business incubator to promote the growth of technology start-ups in the community.

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Hudson Square and Trinity have become home to many of the Citys leading not-for-profits, including Atlantic Philanthropies, the Audubon Society and the Guggenheim Foundation. At 160 Varick, Trinity helped establish and houses a new business incubator to promote the growth of technology start-ups in the community.

2008

In the fall of 2008, a community stakeholders charrette identified continuing problems facing the neighborhood and recommended changes to be implemented through a rezoning that could help the neighborhood evolve in the right direction. These changes included mixed use development, attracting better retail, and improving the streetscape and connection to the river.

2009

The Hudson Square Connection is formed to improve streetscape, make the neighborhood more pedestrian-friendly, promote environmental sustainability, and work to mitigate Holland Tunnel traffic. To learn more about the BID, please visit hudsonsquare.com

2016

Trinity thinks about the future of Hudson Square in decades and centuries. A new joint venture with Norges Bank Investment Management and Hines marks an exciting new chapter in Trinity’s commitment to Hudson Square as it continues its dynamic growth and transformation into a vibrant, 24-hour neighborhood.

2017

Trinity strengthens its commitment to the future of Hudson Square by acquiring the leasehold interest in 375 Hudson Street for $580 million. The 1.1 million-square-foot property was originally constructed in 1987 by Tishman Speyer pursuant to a long-term land lease from Trinity as the headquarters of Saatchi & Saatchi which continues to occupy a majority to the space.

Future

The evolution of Hudson Square reaches a significant milestone with the announcement that Disney has purchased the rights to develop the full block bounded by Spring, Vandam, Hudson and Varick Streets – to be known as 4 Hudson Square – and will relocate the majority of its operations to the neighborhood. The $650 million, 99-year ground lease from Trinity marks the beginning of the next chapter of Trinity’s stewardship of Queen Anne’s original 215-acre land grant in 1705.“This is a significant development in Trinity’s centuries-long commitment to this neighborhood and to the area’s continuing growth and transformation,” noted Rev. Dr. William Lupfer, the 18th Rector of Trinity Church Wall Street.